Vascularized partial free toe tissue transfer under local anesthesia

Hyon Surk Kim, Tae Won Jeong, Seung Ha Park, Byung Il Lee

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    6 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background: This study was designed to introduce free toe soft tissue transfer using local infiltration anesthesia in patients not suitable for general anesthesia and local tissue coverage. Methods: From January 2006 to August 2012, a total of 11 traumatic fingertip defects were reconstructed by toe soft tissue transfer. All procedures except 1 were done as primary reconstructions, with either the lateral side of the great toe (5 cases) or the medial side of the second toe (6 cases) used as a donor. Postoperative follow-up periods were between 8 months to 2 years and 6 months. Results: Flap sizes varied from 1.0 × 2.0 to 2.0 × 3.5 cm. The mean operative times were 4 hours 29 minutes for cases done by a single team and 3 hours 21 minutes for cases done by a 2-team approach. Approximately 5.8 mL of local anesthetic agent was used in each finger and 5.9 mL was used in the toes for a total of 11.7 mL. All f laps survived and were fully taken without complications, except 1 case that presented partial necrosis. Conclusions: Fingertip soft tissue reconstruction by free toe tissue transfer under local anesthesia uses a more limited operative field, with a shorter operative time, enabling reconstruction in patients not suitable for general anesthesia. This is even more so with a microsurgical 2-team approach, which reduces the volume of anesthetic agent needed, making this method a sufficiently realistic option for fingertip soft tissue reconstruction.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)539-542
    Number of pages4
    JournalAnnals of Plastic Surgery
    Volume75
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2015

    Bibliographical note

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

    Keywords

    • Fingertip reconstruction
    • Free flap
    • Local anesthesia
    • Toe tissue transfer

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Surgery

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